Drain petcock

ABSTRACT

A drain petcock having a central channel for drainage, a side wall aperture for draining, and a closing plug that both closes the central channel and overlies the side wall aperture. The partial removal of the closing plug enables a controlled flow for initial draining. A full removal of the closing plug enables a more controlled flow through the central channel for further draining.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention is related generally to petcocks that are used inconnection with fluid containing vessel that need occasional draining.More specifically, the invention relates to draining oil pans and thelike associated with engines. Most specifically, the invention relatesto oil pans and the like which have a draining hole facing a side ratherthan facing down.

BACKGROUND

Many of the Original Manufacturer Equipment (OEM) plugs, commonly knownas billet plugs, which is solid and must be entirely removed from thepan in order to drain the pan. The OEM billet plug is connected to thepan with a camming action. This can be especially problematic for sidedraining pans as the fluid flow begins quickly and is difficult tocontrol. There have been aftermarket attempts to improve the reliabilityand ease of removal in replacement for the OEM plug, but they have notaddressed the problem of controlling the drainage.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a drain plug that is a petcock with acentral channel for drainage, a side wall aperture for draining, and aclosing plug that both closes the central channel and overlies the sidewall aperture. The partial removal of the closing plug enables acontrolled flow for initial draining. The full removal of the closingplug enables a more controlled flow through the central channel forfurther draining.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a petcock with the closing plugin the fully closed position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the petcock of FIG. 1 that illustrates the sidewall aperture;

FIG. 3 illustrates the closing plug exploded away from the elongatedbody of the petcock;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an assembled unit where the closing plugis closing the central channel and the side wall aperture;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the section shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the top of the petcock with the closingplug in the fully closed position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view with the closing plug in an early stage ofbeing removed;

FIG. 8 illustrates a tool recess in the top of the closing plug; and,

FIG. 9 illustrates the tip at the end of the closing plug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, the petcock 10 has an elongated body 12 with anouter configuration below the OEM line that mimics the geometry of theOEM part so that it will mate like the part it is replacing. The OEMconfiguration includes two dependent stoppers 11 that will limit thetravel of the body 12 into the drain hole. The outer configuration abovethe OEM line provides additional body length to accommodate theadditional features of the invention. The OEM part, unlike the presentinvention, is a solid body and there is no fluid passage.

One wall 14 of the body 12 has an aperture 16 that is located below theedge 20 which is the termination of the additional body portion 18. Theaperture 16 is located in wall 14 so that it will provide a downwardflow when the attachment end 24 is connected through the camming actionto a drain hole. This orientation is especially helpful when the drainis provided in a side of the pan and a side discharge may soil otherbody parts or components.

With reference to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the additional portion 18provides the length to form threads 22 on the interior wall of thepetcock 10. The threads 22 extend below the aperture 16 so that fullyinserted plug 40 overlies the aperture 16. This is not done for thepurpose of sealing against fluid leaks but is done to limit debris fromentering the central channel. Still with reference to FIG. 3, theclosing plug 40 has external threads 42 that mate with the internalthreads 22 to fasten the elongated body 12 and the plug 40 together. Thethreads 22 and 42 extend for a length that will bring the closing pluginto a sealing position and when unthreaded will retain the closing plugin the additional portion 18 so that the central channel and theaperture are in fluid communication.

Still with reference to FIG. 3, the closing plug has an upper plane 43with appendages 44 that include legs 46 that are vertical with respectto the plane 43 and projections 48 that are horizontal to the plane 43.When the closing plug 40 is in a fully closed condition the projections48 are received within the recesses 26 and further rotation of the plug40 is resisted by the stops 28.

Still with reference to FIG. 3, the plane 43 of plug 40 includes arecess 50 for using a tool, such as a flat or chisel tip screw driver,to aid in unthreading the plug 40. The appendage 44 may also be used forthreading and unthreading the plug 40. When sufficient fluid has beenreleased, the plug 40 can be fully removed so that any remaining fluidcan flow through the channel in elongated body 12. Alternatively, thepetcock 10 can be fully removed for the drain hole.

With reference to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the interior wall 19 hasthreads that extend through the additional portion 18 and bring the tip60 of closing plug 40 into the interior of the elongate body 10 so it isbelow the aperture 16. Likewise, the closing plug has a correspondinglength. The tip 62 of plug 40 has a recess 61 that receives a sealingring 62 that abuts interior wall 19. Below the sealing ring 62, the tip60 has a conical surface 64. Just below the threads 22, a chamfer 66 isformed in the interior wall portion 19 to guide the sealing ring intoabutment with the interior wall 19. The channel 68 is open to the edge70.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, these are enlarged views that show theprojection 48 in the recesses 26 and against stops 28, FIG. 5, theprojections 48 released from the recesses 26 for rotation, FIG. 7. Withrespect to FIG. 8, it is a top plan view of the condition illustrated inFIG. 6. With respect to FIG. 9, it is a plan view of the closing plugtip.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drain petcock comprising: a body that has acentral opening extending between a first open end portion that isconfigured to engage with an opening in a fluid container and a secondopen end portion that is spaced from the first open end portion; thesecond open end portion has an internal threading that extends from anoutermost edge of the second open end portion toward the first open endportion for a predetermined length and the outermost edge of the secondopen end portions includes at least one stop formed in the internalthreading at the outermost edge of the second open end portion; anaperture in a wall of the second open end portion extends through theinternal threading of the second open end portion and communicates withthe central opening; a plug having a length that is sufficient to extendfrom the outermost most edge of the second open end portion to aposition beyond the aperture formed in the wall of the second open endportion and closes both the opening in the second open end portion andthe aperture formed; and, the plug has a upper portion that includes atool receiving recess directed toward the first open end and at leastone appendage that extends away from the tool receiving recess and isdimensioned so the at least one appendage engages with the at least onestop formed in the internal threading at the outermost edge of thesecond open end portion.
 2. The drain petcock of claim 1 wherein,further comprising a second stop and a second appendage.
 3. The drainpetcock of claim 2 wherein, the at least one appendage and the secondappendage are within a plane defined by the outermost edge of the secondopen end portion.
 4. The drain petcock of claim 1 wherein, the at leastone appendage is within the outermost edge of the second open endportion when the at least one appendage is engaged with the at least onestop formed in the internal threading at the outermost edge of thesecond open end portion.
 5. A drain petcock comprising: a body that hasa central opening extending between a first open end portion that isconfigured to engage with an opening in a fluid container and a secondopen end portion that is spaced from the first open end portion; thesecond open end portion has an internal threading that extends from anoutermost edge of the second open end portion toward the first open endportion for a predetermined length and the outermost edge of the secondopen end portions includes at least one stop formed in the internalthreading at the outermost edge of the second open end portion; anaperture in a wall of the second open end portion extends through theinternal threading of the second open end portion and communicates withthe central opening; a plug having a length that is sufficient to extendfrom the outermost most edge of the second open end portion to aposition beyond the aperture formed in the wall of the second open endportion and closes both the opening in the second open end portion andthe aperture formed; and, the plug has a upper portion that is below theoutermost edge of the second open end portion and the upper portion hasat least one appendage that extends toward the outermost edge of thesecond open end portion and engages with the at least one stop formed inthe internal threading at the outermost edge of the second open endportion.